|
2 members and 95 visitors online
| |
|||||
 July 24, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Baghead" Co-directors Jay and Mark Duplass
Mark and Jay Duplass recognize the irony of their setting. Sitting in a massive conference room in a Manhattan hotel, the brothers provide a strikingly informal contrast to the lavish decor. Shirts comfortably untucked, they toy around with a couple bruised apples and slovenly place their elbows on the table. It's a reasonable display of contentment. After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January, the sibling filmmakers' low budget sophomore feature, "Baghead," landed a generous distribution deal with Sony Pictures Classics (which opens the film theatrically in limited release Friday, July 25). The mini-major has flown them to New York from Los Angeles, where they currently reside, but the steeper budget hasn't changed their world view. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, Lead Story ] July 23, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "American Teen" Director Nanette Burnstein
From John Hughes to Judd Apatow, the plight of the American teen has never lacked appeal in popular culture. But even this steadfast truism doesn't make the concept for "American Teen" immediately salable. A nonfiction portrait of several prototypical seventeen year olds in Warsaw, Indiana, the movie finds all the stereotypes -- from the jocks to the outcasts -- in real life. "I understood that there were certain teen stories that happen in real life. I was going after those," says director Nanette Burstein, speaking from her home in Los Angeles where she recently gave birth. [ read more in People ] [ 7 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] July 21, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Man on Wire" Director James Marsh and subject Philippe Petit
[Editor's Note: Magnolia Pictures opens the film in limited release beginning Friday, July 25 in New York with a larger roll out in select cities August 8.] "Man on Wire" is the perfect example of matching doc director to doc subject. French tightrope walker and juggler Philippe Petit became world-famous when he walked between the two World Trade Center towers, then under construction, on August 7, 1974 -- a completely illegal if fantastic act that involved complex preparation and shook up New York City's police department. (He had to cross back and forth several times to avoid the cops.) Petit had already achieved artistic notoriety for his feats at famous sites like Notre Dame in Paris, but to traverse the air space between what were then the world's two tallest buildings? It's not only his unbeatable skill, though, that makes Petit an ideal subject for a doc: He is a ball of fire, a fascinating egomaniac who engages you completely with his energy and confidence. Petit has written several books, including To Reach the Clouds, which recounts the feat in downtown Manhattan. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] July 18, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW |"Boy A" Director, John Crowley
John Crowley is, above all, an Exception, with a capital 'E.' One, he became a highly regarded established theater director in his native Ireland, but was able to cross over into the medium of film with equal success. And two, he has shown himself masterful in two completely different film genres and styles. To elaborate: Crowley's first feature, "Intermission" (2003), was an ensemble piece in which multiple (mostly raunchy) Irish characters crisscrossed through 11 different storylines, which ultimately converged into a powerful climax. Now he has made "Boy A," set in the UK (where Crowley now resides), the atmosphere of which is totally English, it's one storyline beautifully developed and, much more linear than "Intermission," moving toward an equally strong denouement. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, Lead Story ] July 17, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | Back and Forth with Ted Leonsis and Eugene Hernandez
On the eve of the launch of SnagFilms -- as we signed a deal with Ted Leonsis -- indieWIRE's Eugene Hernandez got on the phone for an hour to talk with Leonsis about Snag and the state of distribution today, particulary aimed at hearing more about how and why Snag came to be. The acquisition of iW came on our 12th anniversary, with more background available in our letter to the indieWIRE readers. With a clear inside track on our new parent company, it seemed like an opportunity to hear more about the plans for Snag in a bit of a different way. [ read more in People ] [ 3 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, Lead Story ] July 10, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "The Exiles" Presenters, Charles Burnett and Sherman Alexie
Usually, when established artists place their names on another work, their involvement in its release is somewhat arbitrary (see "Quentin Tarantino Presents," for example). The purpose of Charles Burnett and Sherman Alexie presenting Milestone Films' re-release of "The Exiles," however, has a stronger reasoning that's both practical and profound. Last year, Milestone released Burnett's great unheralded classic "Killer of Sheep," a 1977 film that deals with race issues not unlike the ones at the core of "The Exiles." Alexie, an established Seattle-based writer and poet with a few films to his name, focuses exclusively on issues facing modern Native Americans, which "The Exiles," although completed in 1961, amazingly does as well. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews ]  iW PROFILE | "Were The World Mine" Director Tom Gustafson
Four Outfests ago, Tom Gustafson's short film "Fairies" was making a stop on its long run on the festival circuit. A 20-minute musical fantasy inspired by William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Fairies" ended up screening at nearly 100 festivals, including Tribeca and pretty much every LGBT festival around. But it was at this particular stop in L.A. that Gustafson realized "Fairies"' potential for expansion. "Many people expressed their interest in seeing more of the story," Gustafson said in an interview with indieWIRE. "[Co-writer and producer] Cory Krueckeberg and I started developing ideas for the feature-length musical on our way home [from Outfest] and by the time we landed in New York City, we had a full outline." Four years later, that outline has been wholly realized as "Were The World Mine." And after many successful festival screenings (and almost as many audience awards), "World"'s journey is coming full circle as OutFest 2008's Awards Night Gala Presentation next week. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, Profiles, Queer Cinema ] July 9, 2008 Pondering Polanski in New Doc (Now Coming to a Theater Near You)
In the wake of a small Oscar qualifying run this spring and then an HBO cable TV premiere last month, Marina Zenovich's "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" officially opens in theaters this weekend. indieWIRE first covered the film shortly after its Sundance Film Festival debut. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Profiles ] July 2, 2008 LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "I'll Come Running" Director Spencer Parsons and "HottieBoombaLottie" Director Seth Packard
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 30, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Tell No One" Director Guillaume Canet
It's not exactly clear when the trend started, but French filmmakers are currently making the best old-style Hollywood thrillers. The caffeinated pace, requisite chase scenes, intricate plots are all there. But Gallic filmmakers bring something more to the party: distinctive camera work along with a social critique and complex characters who resonate with the over-thirteen crowd. Claude Lelouche's recent thriller "Roman de Gare" plumbed the darker corners of the fame game and a writer's ego. Now comes "Tell No One" from actor-turned-director Guillaume Canet, a major hit in France and winner of two Cesars. Adapted from the novel by Harlan Coben - six million copies sold, translated in twenty-seven languages - "Tell No One" essentially hangs an action thriller and police procedural on a story of romantic obsession. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, Lead Story, World Cinema ] June 28, 2008 LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "Must Read After My Death" Director Morgan Dews
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 27, 2008 LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story" Director Stefan Forbes
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "Thing With No Name" Director Sarah Friedland
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 26, 2008 LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "Trinidad" Co-Directors Jay Hodges and PJ Raval
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "Loot" Director Darius Marder
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "Prince of Broadway" Director Sean Baker
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 25, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "All In This Tea" Directors Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht
Co-directors Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht have collaborated on the documentary "All In This Tea." The film follows David Lee Hoffman, a man more passionate about tea than any other. Travelling with him to the most remote regions of China, Blank and Leibrecht detail Hoffman's search for the best handmade teas in the world. The film had its world premiere Berlin International Film Festival last year. "Tea" opens on Friday, June 27 at Cinema Village in New York. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews ]  LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "Largo" Co-Director Andrew van Baal
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "Finishing Heaven" Director Mark Mann, "Big City Heart" Director Ben Rodkin, and "The Poker House" Director Lori Petty
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 24, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Full Grown Men" Director David Munro
The arrival of "Full Grown Men" in limited release this week marks a belated emergence for a film not unlike the delayed maturity of the film's downtrodden protagonist. Directed by David Munro, "Full Grown Men" (the winner of this year's indieWIRE: Undiscovered Gems audience award, sponsored by Sundance Channel and presented by The New York Times and Emerging Pictures) tracks the psychological progress of Alby (Matt McGrath), a thirty-year-old stargazer woefully nostalgic for his salad days. Abandoning his wife before the opening credits, Alby finds his old childhood pal Elias (Judah Friedlander of "30 Rock") and together they take a road trip that allows both to work through their various neuroses. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, Lead Story ]  LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "Pressure Cooker" Directors Jennifer Grausman and Mark Becker
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ]  LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "Dirty Hands: The Art & Crimes of David Choe" Director Harry Kim
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 23, 2008 LAFF '08 INTERVIEW | "Paper or Plastic?" Co-Directors Justine Jacob and Alex D. da Silva
Los Angeles Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Los Angeles Film Festival ] June 18, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Brick Lane" Director Sarah Gavron
The theme of the immigrant experience has become a burgeoning sub-genre in both cinema and literature. The latest such film on tap is "Brick Lane," a debut feature helmed by Sarah Gavron, who previously had mainly a BAFTA-winning TV movie to her credit. The project presented multiple challenges. Writers Laura Jones and Abi Morgan had to compress the acclaimed 500 page novel by Monica Ali (short listed for Britain's Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 2003). Gavron needed to devise a visual equivalent for the rich inner life of a notably silent heroine. The filmmakers scoured the world in search of actors to play the Bangladeshi characters. Add to that, Gavron, who's Caucasian, was making a movie about Bangladeshis. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, Lead Story, World Cinema ] June 11, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Kicking It" Director Susan Koch
Director Susan Koch's Sundance '08 doc "Kicking It" (co-directed by Jeff Werner) centers on the Homeless World Cup that was established in 2001 with the idea to give homeless people the opportunity to better their lives through sports. In the five years since its creation, 20,000 people have competed on street teams. The film captures the 2006 Homeless World Cup in which 500 players representing 48 countries traveled to Cape Town, South Africa. Seven players are profiled... Liberation Films opens the film in limited release Friday, June 13. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] June 10, 2008 iW PROFILE | "My Winnipeg" Director Guy Maddin
"I was going in the direction that all indie directors go," said filmmaker Guy Maddin, reflecting on his career. "It was fun to do a U-turn and go in the opposite direction. Ironically, if I go to Hollywood, I'd be happier going this way. I'll get there on my own strengths, if I get there at all." Maddin, talking to a moderator Dennis Lim in front of a crowd that gathered at the Apple Store SoHo during the Tribeca Film Festival, is referring to the primitive nature of his recent films, most particularly "My Winnipeg," which is being released by IFC Films at the IFC Center and Lincoln Cinemas in New York this Friday, June 13. [EDITOR'S NOTE: This profile was originally published as part of indieWIRE's coverage of the 7th Tribeca Film Festival.] [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Profiles ] June 9, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "On the Rumba River" Director Jacques Sarasin
Director Jacques Sarasin's music doc "On the Rumba River" is described as a "tribute to the Congolese people... In the face of staggering poverty, a history of oppression and a long-time civil war that has claimed the lives of four million people, people continue to find solace in music. The film focuses on Antoine Kolosoy, whose music was banned by the Belgian colonia authorities who feared his joyful rhythms would cuase unrest. In the '60s, his songs expressed the hopes of the newly independent country that believed in its future... This is the second directing project for Sarasin following his 2001 drama "Je chanterai pur toi" (I'll Sing for You). The film is currently in limited release from First Run Features. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews ] June 3, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Take Out" Co-director Sean Baker
Co-director Sean Baker's "Take Out" centers on the day in the life of Ming Ding, an illegal Chinese immigrant working as a deliveryman for a Chinese take-out shop in New York City. Ming is behind with his payments on his huge debt to the smugglers who brought him to the US. The collectors have given him until the end of the day to deliver the money that is due. After borrowing most from friends and relatives, Ming realizes that the remainder must come from the day's delivery tips... CAVU Pictures opens the film in limited release Friday, June 6. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews ]  indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Operation Filmmaker" Director Nina Davenport
After an award-winning run on the festival circuit, including the Documentary Award for AFI Fest and the KNF Award from the Rotterdam International Film Festival, Nina Davenport's "Operation Filmmaker is beginning a limited theatrical release this Friday, June 6. The film follows Muthana Mohmed, a young Iraqi man who appeared on MTV's "True Life" series explaining his dream of becoming a filmmaker. The episode caught the eye of actor-director Liev Schreiber, who hired Muthana to work on the set of his film "Everything is Illuminated." Davenport decided to film Muthana's experiences on set, which led to her personal entanglement in the situations that arose. Davenport talked to indieWIRE about the experience and her hopes for "Filmmaker"'s release. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, Lead Story ] June 2, 2008 Shorts Column | Matthew Modine on Fifteen Years of Making Short Films
Two weeks after Matthew Modine's most recent short film, "I Think I Thought," made its North American premiere at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, the actor/writer/director spoke to indieWIRE about his decade-and-half-long career making shorts. Having embarked on his first short film endeavor while acting in Robert Altman's "Short Cuts," Modine continues to make shorts that not only speak to ideas he's passionate about but also are extremely entertaining. With "I Think I Thought" being released on iTunes later this month, "To Kill an American" on Metacafe, and "Cowboy" set to play CineVegas next month, Modine's career as a short filmmaker is taking center stage. Here, in his own words, Matthew Modine reveals what inspires him to pick up a camera and make short films. [ read more in People ] [ 2 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, Profiles, Shorts ]
| |
